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Ben Lomond National Park in Tasmania — photos

After eating a simple picnic Christmas lunch at Cataract Gorge Reserve in Launceston, we decided to drive to Ben Lomond National Park, which is about 50 kilometres from Launceston and includes the second highest peak in Tasmania — Legges Tor at 1,572 metres.

We did not realise that the Tasmanian Government charges a Park Entry Fee to all its national parks. Day-visit National Parks Passes can be purchased on entry to the Ben Lomond National Park, or pre-purchased at any Service Tasmania Outlet. An annual pass is also able to be pre-purchased, as is a holiday pass which provides entry to all Tasmania’s national parks for up to two months. Check the Tasmanain Parks & Wildlife Service website for details.

The Ben Lomond Skifield Area is within the Ben Lomond National Park. The village road is the highest in Tasmania and at its end reaches an elevation of 1460 metres. The final section of the road to the village is known as Jacob’s Ladder — while the road grade itself is not steep, the hairpin switchbacks zig zag up a seriously steep face of the mountain. As we were travelling in summer, we did not need snow chains on our tyres. We only managed to get about a third of the way up Jacob’s Ladder before my passengers freaked out and told me to turn around. I did not complain!

Ben Lamond National Park sign

View from one third of the way up Jacob’s Ladder

This article is part of my road trip from Brisbane to Tasmania and back – further stories about my road trip can be found by following the Tasmania trip tag.